WEBVTT

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 Well, great to see you this morning, folks.

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 Why don't you, if you've got your Bibles there, why don't you turn to Colossians chapter 1.

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 This is where we're going to be over the next little while.

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 We're going to look at chapters 1 and 2 pre-Christmas.

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 Can you believe that Christmas is even a thought in our heads?

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 It's amazing, isn't it?

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 Pre-Christmas, and then we're going to look at chapters 3 and 4 after Christmas.

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 And it's a letter that has got so much to teach us about who our God is.

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 And it's my prayer that as we go through it together that we'll get a bigger sense of who he is

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 and what he's done for us and how glorious he is.

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 And that what we just sung there would not just be kind of rhetoric,

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 that it would be so true in our lives.

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 So I want to honor you with my whole life.

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 So why don't you turn to Colossians chapter 1 and let's still our hearts and pray together.

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 And let's ask that God would be with us now as we turn to his word.

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 Psalm 119.

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 The psalmist writes,

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 Your word, Lord, is a lamp for my feet and it's a light for my path.

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 Father, thank you so much for your precious word.

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 Think of what we read in Isaiah there, that it's a word that you, through which, bring life.

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 And it's a word through which you accomplish your purposes.

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 And so, Father, we ask that your word would do its work in our hearts this morning.

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 And that you would transform us more into the people that you have called us to be.

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 And that your spirit would come and he would show us wondrous things in your word.

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 Wondrous things in your law.

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 And that he would make us more in love with your son, Jesus Christ.

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 In whose name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 So, I felt the world was just, there was just too much purpose.

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 Too much logic.

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 It was too beautiful to happen by accident.

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 There has to be somebody bigger than you.

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 And bigger than me.

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 Guys, can you click this on?

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 I don't know what's going on with that.

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 Just click it on.

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 These are the words of Gene Kernan, who flew to the moon on Apollo 17.

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 And what he's describing is what the experts call the overview effect.

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 I don't know if you've ever heard of the overview effect.

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 But apparently what happens a lot when astronauts go into space.

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 And it's the feeling of awe that you get when you encounter the bigness of something.

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 And how that encounter changes you.

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 And after that encounter, you're not the same.

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 It's called the overview effect.

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 And I guess I just want to say right at the start, as we journey into this letter,

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 as we step into this book of Colossians,

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 my prayer is that each of us would leave it with the overview effect.

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 So, here's the question that God is going to ask us as he speaks to us through his word.

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 And as we journey through this letter to the Colossians.

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 And here it is.

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 How big is your view of Jesus?

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 So, I was going to ask us as a community, how big is our view of Jesus?

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 But let me put it personally to you this morning.

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 How big is your view of Jesus?

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 Is he a Sunday school Jesus?

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 Is he meek and mild?

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 Is he unoffensive?

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 Does he make a little appearance at Christmas and Easter?

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 And if we're honest, we kind of prefer the Christmas Jesus.

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 And he's got very little relevance to my life.

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 Is that your view of Jesus this morning?

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 Is he the lucky charm Jesus?

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 Is he in, I'd rather have him on my side than not on my side?

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 And if honest, he should be grateful that I've picked him for my team and not the Dalai Lama.

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 Is that your view of Jesus?

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 Is he the 999 Jesus?

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 Is he in, I'll phone him up when I've got an emergency in my life and I need some religious input.

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 And I fully expect him to be there to answer my call when I call him.

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 Is he the role model Jesus?

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 Is he up there with the other good teachers in life who have got decent things to say about life that I can kind of cherry pick and I can use to help me navigate my way through this thing that I call life, that we call life.

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 Friends, how big is your view of Jesus?

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 Whoever you are here this morning, whatever's going on in your heart, let me ask you, how big is your view of Jesus?

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 Because this letter to the Colossians is going to radically stretch the contours of our understanding because it's going to present us with the real Jesus.

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 And the real Jesus is so much bigger than we think he is.

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 A Jesus who is master of history.

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 A Jesus who is Lord over every area of our existence.

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 A Jesus who is the sustainer of the stars and the planets.

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 Jesus who is the giver of every breath that we take.

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 A Jesus who is sovereign over every single government and political power.

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 A Jesus who is sufficient for every single area of our lives.

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 And a Jesus who is a wonderful saviour and a lover of souls.

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 This is the Jesus that Paul is going to present us with in Colossians.

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 So how big is your view of Jesus?

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 How big is he in your mind?

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 Because I guess the answer to that question, it really makes a difference, does it, in everyday life?

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 It really makes a difference.

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 It matters when disaster strikes.

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 When you get the news from the hospital.

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 When you get those results.

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 And it's not the results that you were hoping would come.

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 It matters when plans in your life fall through, doesn't it?

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 When that P45 comes through the door and life is all of a sudden up in the air.

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 When you didn't get that graduate job from university that you really, really wanted.

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 It matters when persecution comes in life.

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 I can make a little prediction for the future.

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 When things are going to get really, really tough to stand for this king.

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 It really matters who we think he is.

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 It matters when things go well in life, doesn't it?

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 You know that life itself, everything that we have, is a gift from this glorious Jesus.

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 So friends, let me ask you, how big is your view of Jesus?

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 How big is he?

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 It was A.W. Tozer, who was a theologian back in the day, who famously said,

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 that which comes to our minds when we first think about God is the most important thing about us.

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 What do you think of when you think of Jesus?

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 And it's my prayer that as we journey through this letter over the next weeks and months,

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 with the help of the Holy Spirit, that we would get a Colossian-sized view of Jesus.

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 Who he is, what he's done, what he's doing, who we are in him,

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 and that that would radically transform our individual and our corporate lives together as his people,

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 as we respond to who he is, as we pledge ourselves to live for his glory alone,

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 as we live by his word alone, and as we seek to make him known in our world.

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 This is Colossians, okay?

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 Are you excited as we get into this?

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 It's thrilled my heart, this book, as I've journeyed through it over the last couple of months,

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 but more than that, even over the last couple of years,

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 because this is one of the most Christ-saturated books in the New Testament,

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 in the whole Bible, in fact.

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 Wonderful.

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 Now, as we get into this letter this morning, okay,

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 let me just give you three Ps by way of background.

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 I like to alliterate.

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 You've probably picked that one up.

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 Three Ps as we get into Colossians.

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 Here's the first P.

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 Look, I don't even know what's going on here.

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 Paul.

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 Here's the first P.

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 Paul.

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 The man whose life has been turned upside down by Jesus Christ.

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 The man who once in his life was a persecutor of the church.

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 He encounters Jesus, and now he's a preacher about Jesus.

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 Quite incredible, isn't it?

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 Incredible the difference that Jesus has made in Paul's life.

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 And what Paul has been doing is he's been traveling around the east side of the Med,

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 as we would know it, and he's been teaching people about Jesus.

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 And on his travels, if we go to the next slide, he spent a good chunk of time in the city of Ephesus,

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 which is a city which is about 100 miles west of Colossae,

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 and that we read about in Acts 19.

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 If you want to go home in your own time and check that out.

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 And after some time in Ephesus,

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 a while later, Paul finds himself under house arrest in Rome.

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 And it's from Rome that Paul writes this letter to the church in Colossae.

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 Now get your head around this one, okay?

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 Amazingly, Paul has never met the people that he's writing to.

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 He's never met them.

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 Which raises the question, doesn't it?

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 Why would he bother writing a letter to them?

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 Well, here's the second P.

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 It's the planter.

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 Because when Paul was preaching in Ephesus,

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 it seems likely that a man called Epaphras,

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 who we'll come on to see a little later this morning,

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 he hears Paul's message about the risen Jesus,

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 and God opens his heart, and he becomes a Christian.

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 But the thing about Epaphras is he's not an Ephesus boy,

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 he's a Colossae boy.

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 So he goes back, what seems likely he goes back to his hometown,

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 and so good is this news that he just goes around telling people about Jesus.

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 I love that.

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 Do you know what?

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 Just tells people about Jesus.

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 So true in life, isn't it?

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 That nobody needs to tell us to talk about the things that really excite us.

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 Like, nobody taught me how to love Adrianian's football club, okay?

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 Nobody sent me on a course.

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 Nobody taught me how to tell people about them.

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 Nobody needs to remind me to check the score on Saturday.

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 No one needs to encourage me to wear the badge in public.

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 No one needs to tell me to tell people when they win,

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 which is why he didn't hear from me yesterday, okay?

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 But it's true in life, isn't it, that nobody needs to tell us

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 to tell the things that excite us.

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 This is Epaphras.

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 He's gone to his hometown,

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 and he's told them about the God who has saved him and transformed him,

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 and how he's done that through his son, Jesus Christ.

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 Because this news about Jesus is simply incredible.

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 And what seems to have happened is that the people who have heard in Colossae

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 about Jesus through Epaphras,

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 some of them have become Christians too.

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 And God has birthed this thing that I like to call Colossae Evangelical Church.

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 There it is on the map.

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 This little group of Christians meeting together

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 who've had their lives transformed by Jesus Christ.

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 And on the whole, as you read this letter,

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 you get the sense that things are going really well.

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 They are really going at it in their faith.

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 But, and here's the third P,

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 there's a problem.

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 And so dangerous is this problem to the very life of this church

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 that it's prompted Epaphras to travel all the way from Colossae

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 to find Paul in Rome to ask him for help.

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 Now that is a thousand mile plus trip

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 in the first century.

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 No easy jet direct flight.

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 Yeah?

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 No cross country train.

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 I don't know how he's got there,

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 but he's got there in the first century.

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 Now think about it.

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 How much does he really love these fellow brothers and sisters in this church?

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 To go all that way to find Paul.

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 And how concerned is he about their spiritual lives?

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 About Christ Jesus being the center of this church

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 and then pursuing him.

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 That he's gone all the way to find Paul so that he can help them.

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 Why has he done this?

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 Because certain people in the vicinity of this church

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 are promoting teachings

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 that are distracting from

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 and decentralizing Jesus.

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 Now it's hard to nail it down exactly.

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 It's most likely a mixture of Jewish teachings

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 and pagan cult teachings

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 that are distracting from Jesus.

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 But the crux of it is that

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 while Jesus is a good start in life,

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 that there's more to experience

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 and there's more to know beyond him.

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 And the danger is if that is swallowed,

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 then Jesus moves from being a big deal

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 at the center of their lives

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 to a small deal at the periphery.

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 And so the thrust of this letter is

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 keep going with Jesus.

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 Have him blow your minds.

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 Why would you move on for him?

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 We've got everything that we need in him.

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 Let me just show you a few of these in the letter

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 to show you how this works.

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 Maybe just put them up on the screen.

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 If you look at 123,

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 Paul writes,

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 if you continue in your faith,

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 established and firm

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 and do not move from the hope

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 held out in the gospel,

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 keep going with Jesus.

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 2.6

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 Which I think is the real heart of this letter.

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 So then,

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 just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,

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 continue to live your lives in him,

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 rooted,

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 which is where we got the idea for this series from,

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 rooted and built up in him.

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 Keep going with Jesus.

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 Keep going with Jesus.

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 Don't take your eyes off him.

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 Fix your eyes on him.

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 Set your hearts on him.

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 Let a big vision of him

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 and who he is

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 dominate your horizons

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 and make it your life ambition

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 to get to know him better.

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 Because we have a big Jesus.

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 One who is so much bigger

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 than we think he is.

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 So Paul says,

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 keep going for him.

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 Keep your eyes on him.

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 And in verses this morning,

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 Paul wants these Colossian Christians

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 who he knows are perhaps confused

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 by the stuff that they're hearing.

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 he wants them to know two things.

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 Okay, here's the first one.

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 He wants them to know

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 that they are the real deal.

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 So writing to people,

00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:46.879
 remember,

00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:47.659
 he's never met.

00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.279
 Verse 3,

00:13:50.180 --> 00:13:51.919
 we always thank God,

00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:54.200
 the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:56.279
 when we pray for you.

00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:58.740
 So Paul is praying, isn't he?

00:13:58.740 --> 00:13:59.299
 He's praying,

00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:00.240
 he's thrilled

00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:03.120
 when he hears about these Christians,

00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:04.700
 as he hears Epaphras speak

00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:05.620
 about what God has done.

00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:07.320
 He's absolutely thrilled.

00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.620
 And his heart

00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:10.740
 is filled with thankfulness

00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:11.799
 as he hears

00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:13.419
 how God's transforming grace

00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:14.679
 has been at work in their lives.

00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:17.360
 Have you ever felt that?

00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:18.879
 As you've heard about

00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:19.639
 how God has been at work

00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:20.419
 in someone's life.

00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:21.639
 You're just thrilled.

00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:22.940
 Right?

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:24.560
 We had a wonderful time together

00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:25.080
 last Sunday,

00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:25.560
 did we not?

00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:27.899
 Absolutely incredible

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:29.320
 to hear the stories

00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:30.240
 of Sabina and Zoe

00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:31.159
 in their own ways

00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:32.560
 about how God has been

00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:33.519
 at work in their lives

00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:34.779
 and why they wanted

00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:35.600
 to take that step

00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:36.159
 of baptism,

00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:36.879
 to tell the world

00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.740
 that they follow Jesus.

00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:38.980
 It was great, wasn't it?

00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:40.879
 We had a little three-year-old

00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.340
 this week

00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:42.200
 when we bathed her.

00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:42.659
 She was asking

00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:43.659
 if we were baptizing her.

00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:44.100
 It was funny.

00:14:45.060 --> 00:14:45.920
 She was clearly watching.

00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.399
 But wasn't it brilliant

00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.300
 to be reminded

00:14:49.300 --> 00:14:50.460
 just how good our God is?

00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:51.960
 But I wonder

00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:52.639
 if you felt that

00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:53.659
 in your own heart

00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:54.279
 and in your soul.

00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.460
 Because see if

00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:58.080
 Sabina had got up

00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:58.519
 and said,

00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:58.759
 guys,

00:14:58.800 --> 00:14:59.480
 I just really want you

00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:00.560
 to know that I've joined the gym.

00:15:02.160 --> 00:15:02.379
 Okay?

00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:02.800
 And then Zoe

00:15:02.800 --> 00:15:03.720
 had come up after that

00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:03.920
 and said,

00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:04.100
 guys,

00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:04.860
 I just really want you

00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:06.019
 to know that I've joined

00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:06.540
 the book club

00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:07.279
 and I love it.

00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:08.620
 Friends,

00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:09.279
 I would not have been

00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:10.279
 moved to tears over that.

00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:12.519
 I just wouldn't.

00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:12.759
 I mean,

00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:13.480
 I love reading.

00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:14.360
 I love the gym.

00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:15.620
 But I just would not

00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.540
 have been moved to tears

00:15:16.540 --> 00:15:16.779
 on that.

00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:17.240
 But see,

00:15:17.300 --> 00:15:17.759
 even the two of them

00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:18.440
 stood up and said,

00:15:19.160 --> 00:15:19.920
 Jesus Christ

00:15:19.920 --> 00:15:21.000
 is everything in my life.

00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:21.960
 I once was dead.

00:15:22.060 --> 00:15:22.899
 He's made me alive.

00:15:23.040 --> 00:15:24.840
 I once was going to hell

00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:25.600
 because of my sin.

00:15:25.660 --> 00:15:26.460
 He's given me heaven.

00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:27.899
 When they told us that,

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:28.660
 friends,

00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:29.460
 my soul was filled

00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:30.259
 with thankfulness.

00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:33.220
 That's what Paul's saying here.

00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:36.139
 When I hear about how God

00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:37.539
 has been at work in your lives,

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:39.980
 my heart is just filled

00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:40.759
 with thankfulness.

00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:44.580
 And do you see the evidences

00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:45.580
 of God's grace

00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:46.460
 that Paul hears

00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:47.500
 in their lives?

00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:48.539
 Do you see them

00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:49.679
 in those opening verses there?

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.059
 The three of them?

00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:52.639
 Faith,

00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:53.659
 love,

00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:54.779
 and hope.

00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:56.500
 Faith,

00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:57.299
 love,

00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.179
 and hope.

00:15:58.539 --> 00:15:59.720
 The distinct marks

00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:00.720
 of the Christian community.

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:02.419
 Faith,

00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.759
 their faith in Jesus Christ,

00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:05.179
 their devotion to him,

00:16:05.319 --> 00:16:06.339
 their love for him,

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.740
 their trust in him,

00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:09.379
 their service of him,

00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:11.799
 and their love

00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:12.819
 for who?

00:16:12.939 --> 00:16:13.459
 Do you notice it?

00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.019
 Verse 3,

00:16:14.179 --> 00:16:15.459
 all of God's people.

00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:18.199
 So they love those

00:16:18.199 --> 00:16:19.179
 in their church family,

00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:19.819
 but do you see

00:16:19.819 --> 00:16:21.379
 how it doesn't just stop there?

00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:22.399
 How they love

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:23.839
 all the Christians

00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:25.399
 who they come in contact with

00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:26.139
 throughout the world,

00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:26.980
 their neighbors

00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:28.300
 living in the different cities

00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:28.960
 round about them?

00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.820
 Here is a love

00:16:30.820 --> 00:16:31.720
 that is not determined

00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:32.580
 by age,

00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:34.280
 or interest,

00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.440
 or gender,

00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:36.840
 or nationality,

00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:37.840
 or race,

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:39.000
 but here is a love

00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:40.680
 that is the natural overflow

00:16:40.680 --> 00:16:42.040
 of our oneness

00:16:42.040 --> 00:16:43.879
 in Jesus Christ.

00:16:45.160 --> 00:16:47.019
 And it is a wonderful thing.

00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:49.560
 And if you've ever had

00:16:49.560 --> 00:16:50.259
 that experience

00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:51.360
 when you meet Christians

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.519
 who you've never met before

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:53.720
 and instantly you have

00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.519
 that love and connection

00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:54.980
 with them.

00:16:55.579 --> 00:16:56.460
 Remember when Alex and I

00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:57.220
 went to Malawi,

00:16:57.960 --> 00:16:59.159
 first went to church there,

00:16:59.220 --> 00:17:00.340
 that wonderful feeling

00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:01.139
 of being somewhere

00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:02.159
 completely different,

00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.660
 having a different skin color

00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:05.359
 to many people,

00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:06.599
 speaking a different language

00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.299
 to many people,

00:17:07.379 --> 00:17:08.579
 wearing different clothes,

00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:11.019
 but walking into that church

00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:12.079
 and being lovingly greeted

00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:13.059
 by brothers and sisters

00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:13.680
 in Christ

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.980
 who we instantly

00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:15.759
 had the biggest thing

00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:16.400
 in common with

00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:16.920
 in our lives.

00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:18.259
 It's an incredible feeling,

00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:18.660
 isn't it?

00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:20.820
 This is the love

00:17:20.820 --> 00:17:22.160
 that Paul is talking about here.

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:23.640
 The genuine concern,

00:17:23.800 --> 00:17:25.060
 the genuine appreciation,

00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:26.120
 the genuine love

00:17:26.120 --> 00:17:28.279
 for brothers and sisters

00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:29.080
 around the world.

00:17:29.300 --> 00:17:30.700
 It's why it's such a privilege,

00:17:30.820 --> 00:17:31.160
 is it not,

00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:32.900
 to pray for brothers and sisters

00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:33.560
 around the world

00:17:33.560 --> 00:17:34.420
 who we've never met.

00:17:35.840 --> 00:17:36.940
 And our love for one another

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.920
 and overflow

00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:39.019
 of our oneness in Christ,

00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:39.680
 friends,

00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:41.340
 it's one of the best apologetics

00:17:41.340 --> 00:17:42.279
 that we can offer

00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:43.300
 to a fractured

00:17:43.300 --> 00:17:44.300
 and to a divided

00:17:44.300 --> 00:17:45.279
 and a confused

00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.300
 watching world.

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:48.440
 As they look in

00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:49.259
 and they see this

00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:49.559
 and they think,

00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:50.200
 how on earth

00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:51.000
 does that happen?

00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:51.480
 Our government

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.399
 is spending millions

00:17:52.399 --> 00:17:53.279
 of pounds every year

00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.319
 trying to make it happen

00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:56.220
 and yet here it is.

00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:58.159
 Our love for one another,

00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.460
 our love for God's people,

00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:00.000
 friends,

00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:01.779
 it's such a beautiful thing.

00:18:02.879 --> 00:18:03.940
 So let me ask you,

00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:04.839
 just while we're there,

00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:05.419
 let me ask you,

00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.619
 are you making every effort

00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:07.379
 in your life

00:18:07.379 --> 00:18:08.519
 to love your brothers

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:09.619
 and sisters in Christ?

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.059
 Are you really making

00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:11.779
 every effort?

00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:13.519
 What opportunities

00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:14.740
 are ahead of you this week

00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:16.099
 where you could demonstrate that?

00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.259
 Who could you text?

00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:19.819
 Who could you hug?

00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.119
 Okay, we're Scottish

00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:22.359
 but we do like hugging, okay?

00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:24.299
 Who can you pray for?

00:18:24.399 --> 00:18:25.200
 Who can you visit?

00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:26.279
 Who can you welcome?

00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:28.579
 Who can you visibly

00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.779
 show love to?

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:30.500
 You know,

00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.220
 I find it one of the most

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:32.000
 amazing things here

00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.019
 when I hear people come,

00:18:33.139 --> 00:18:34.180
 visitors who've never been

00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:34.980
 and they say to me

00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.839
 at the door on the way out

00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:36.740
 that we just felt

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.919
 so welcomed here.

00:18:38.419 --> 00:18:39.799
 It's wonderful to hear that.

00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.339
 This is a faith

00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:43.039
 and a love to see

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:43.599
 in the text

00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:44.960
 that springs from the hope

00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:46.819
 that is stored up

00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.539
 for them in heaven.

00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:50.120
 Love that phrase,

00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:51.079
 stored up.

00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:52.319
 It's a word

00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.480
 that is used to,

00:18:54.380 --> 00:18:55.160
 the countries are,

00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:55.600
 in our minds,

00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:56.200
 is it something

00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:57.140
 that is securely

00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:58.640
 fixed and placed,

00:18:59.200 --> 00:18:59.640
 i.e.

00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:00.740
 nobody is going to

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.720
 take this from you.

00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:02.860
 Nobody can rob you

00:19:02.860 --> 00:19:03.440
 of this.

00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.700
 This is kind of

00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:05.480
 Fort Knox

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.559
 type security.

00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:09.240
 What assurance

00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:10.120
 about the future.

00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:10.979
 is it not wonderful

00:19:10.979 --> 00:19:12.199
 to think as we celebrate

00:19:12.199 --> 00:19:12.879
 a dear sister

00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.479
 who's going to be

00:19:13.479 --> 00:19:13.919
 with the Lord

00:19:13.919 --> 00:19:14.979
 that this was true for her?

00:19:15.959 --> 00:19:16.659
 That we are not

00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.359
 a people who are

00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:18.559
 marked by no hope.

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:19.859
 We are a people

00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:21.599
 marked by hope.

00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.939
 And this truth

00:19:23.939 --> 00:19:24.719
 is that yes,

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.319
 while we know

00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.279
 life with God now,

00:19:26.399 --> 00:19:27.339
 our best life

00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:28.419
 is yet to come.

00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:30.079
 And our present experience

00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:31.359
 is but a foretaste

00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:32.219
 of the blessings

00:19:32.219 --> 00:19:33.139
 that will be ours

00:19:33.139 --> 00:19:34.159
 because of Christ

00:19:34.159 --> 00:19:35.239
 one day in heaven.

00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:36.539
 Friends,

00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.219
 we are a community

00:19:37.219 --> 00:19:37.759
 that should be marked

00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.239
 by hope.

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:41.039
 Jonathan Edwards,

00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:41.920
 to go to heaven

00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:43.759
 fully and to enjoy God

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:45.220
 is infinitely better

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:46.319
 than the most pleasant

00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.480
 accommodations here.

00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:49.940
 These are the marks

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.920
 of this Christian community

00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:52.579
 that helps Paul see

00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:54.079
 that God has really

00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:54.620
 been at work

00:19:54.620 --> 00:19:55.180
 in their lives

00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.279
 because this is a community

00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:56.940
 that's been marked

00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:57.700
 by faith,

00:19:58.420 --> 00:19:59.660
 that is marked by faith,

00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:00.460
 by love,

00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:01.319
 and by hope.

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:03.039
 And so the natural question

00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:03.640
 that comes to us

00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:04.000
 this morning

00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.980
 as we see this

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:06.259
 is to think about

00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:07.599
 whether we are a community

00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.480
 who are marked

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.599
 by faith,

00:20:09.819 --> 00:20:10.599
 by love,

00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:11.939
 and by hope.

00:20:15.159 --> 00:20:15.939
 I wonder whether

00:20:15.939 --> 00:20:16.899
 these false teachers,

00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:17.839
 whether they were looking

00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.899
 down on these believers

00:20:18.899 --> 00:20:20.159
 because of the simplicity

00:20:20.159 --> 00:20:21.599
 and the unimpressiveness

00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:22.939
 of their lives

00:20:22.939 --> 00:20:23.819
 following Jesus.

00:20:24.899 --> 00:20:25.439
 I wonder whether

00:20:25.439 --> 00:20:26.399
 these Colossians

00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:27.240
 are thinking to themselves,

00:20:27.379 --> 00:20:27.980
 maybe we're not

00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.599
 the real deal.

00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:31.179
 Maybe there is

00:20:31.179 --> 00:20:32.419
 more to know

00:20:32.419 --> 00:20:33.019
 and experience

00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:34.639
 beyond Jesus.

00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:35.920
 Paul says,

00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.160
 nope.

00:20:37.520 --> 00:20:38.440
 Here is the fruit

00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.220
 that shows me

00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:39.820
 that you

00:20:39.820 --> 00:20:41.700
 are the real deal.

00:20:42.340 --> 00:20:43.240
 And the second thing

00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:43.940
 he wants them to know

00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:44.540
 really quickly

00:20:44.540 --> 00:20:45.460
 is that this message

00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.400
 is a big deal.

00:20:47.600 --> 00:20:48.380
 What is it?

00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:49.400
 It's a true message.

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.380
 Do you see it in the text?

00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:52.420
 Presumably to differentiate

00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.940
 it from the false one

00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:54.759
 that they are hearing

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.660
 from these teachers.

00:20:56.620 --> 00:20:57.520
 The message

00:20:57.520 --> 00:20:58.900
 of God's outrageous grace,

00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.600
 the great love

00:20:59.600 --> 00:21:00.440
 that he has shown

00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:01.340
 us in sending

00:21:01.340 --> 00:21:01.880
 his son

00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:03.100
 who paid

00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:03.540
 our debt

00:21:03.540 --> 00:21:03.880
 of sin

00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:04.520
 on the cross,

00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.660
 reconciled us

00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.440
 to our maker,

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.580
 and to prove

00:21:08.580 --> 00:21:09.300
 that it is

00:21:09.300 --> 00:21:10.180
 the real deal

00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:11.120
 and a big deal

00:21:11.120 --> 00:21:11.560
 message,

00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.300
 I want you

00:21:12.300 --> 00:21:12.880
 to know,

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.340
 says Paul,

00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:13.980
 this word,

00:21:14.080 --> 00:21:14.880
 this message

00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:16.500
 has not just

00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.840
 impacted your postcode.

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:18.400
 Do you see?

00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:20.040
 It is impacting

00:21:20.040 --> 00:21:21.860
 the whole world.

00:21:22.040 --> 00:21:22.780
 Verse 6.

00:21:23.820 --> 00:21:24.760
 In the same way

00:21:24.760 --> 00:21:25.320
 the gospel

00:21:25.320 --> 00:21:26.320
 is bearing fruit

00:21:26.320 --> 00:21:26.780
 and growing

00:21:26.780 --> 00:21:28.780
 throughout the whole world.

00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:30.760
 This letter

00:21:30.760 --> 00:21:31.480
 probably written

00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.059
 somewhere like

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:33.420
 30 years roughly

00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:34.180
 after Jesus

00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:35.140
 had ascended

00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:37.460
 and here it is

00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.480
 impacting

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.420
 the world

00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:41.200
 and it's still

00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:41.920
 happening today.

00:21:43.140 --> 00:21:44.140
 I don't know about you

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:44.779
 but so often

00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:45.400
 what I do

00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:46.240
 is I take

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.880
 how I perceive

00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:47.500
 things

00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:48.579
 as I see them here

00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:49.759
 which is relatively

00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:50.700
 slow growth

00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:52.220
 and I project

00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:53.039
 that onto the world

00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:54.259
 and I kid myself

00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:54.860
 thinking that

00:21:54.860 --> 00:21:55.799
 what's happening here

00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.779
 is happening

00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:57.740
 all over the world.

00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:58.200
 Friends,

00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:58.539
 that is just

00:21:58.539 --> 00:21:59.200
 not true.

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:00.920
 I looked it up

00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:01.860
 an Operation World

00:22:01.860 --> 00:22:03.279
 website this week

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.820
 which gives you

00:22:03.820 --> 00:22:04.340
 statistics

00:22:04.340 --> 00:22:05.980
 about the worldwide church.

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.140
 Let me just give you

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.620
 three to encourage you

00:22:08.620 --> 00:22:09.039
 this morning

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.720
 that this is true.

00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:10.800
 In Sudan,

00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:11.920
 one of the hardest places

00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:12.720
 to be a Christian,

00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:14.720
 the church has increased

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:16.019
 tenfold over the last

00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:16.700
 40 years.

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.480
 Tenfold.

00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:20.220
 In 1949 in China

00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:20.840
 it's estimated

00:22:20.840 --> 00:22:21.279
 that there were

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.840
 1.2 million Christians

00:22:22.840 --> 00:22:24.420
 and today

00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:25.539
 even under such

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.560
 severe persecution

00:22:26.560 --> 00:22:27.320
 it's estimated

00:22:27.320 --> 00:22:27.820
 that there are

00:22:27.820 --> 00:22:29.440
 over 100 million Christians

00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:30.820
 and even that figure

00:22:30.820 --> 00:22:31.840
 is probably too low

00:22:31.840 --> 00:22:32.660
 because we don't know

00:22:32.660 --> 00:22:33.400
 much about the

00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:34.180
 underground church.

00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:35.779
 And here's my favourite

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.080
 okay,

00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:36.980
 in 1989

00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:38.259
 on Mongolia

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:38.880
 if you know where

00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:39.500
 that is on the map

00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.100
 of Mongolia

00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:40.980
 do you know how many

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.940
 Christians there were?

00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.120
 1989

00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:44.600
 four.

00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.160
 Yeah?

00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.299
 Four Christians

00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:47.740
 today

00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:49.400
 over 20,000

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:51.660
 and you hear reports

00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:52.279
 of people

00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:53.180
 who have spent

00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:53.960
 time with them

00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:55.000
 and who have come back

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.779
 and they will tell you

00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:56.539
 that these Christians

00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:57.279
 in Mongolia

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:57.960
 are some of the most

00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.379
 humble

00:22:58.379 --> 00:22:59.440
 and some of the most

00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.619
 evangelistically hungry

00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:01.319
 Christians that you're

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:02.279
 likely to ever meet.

00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.819
 And if you think about

00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.599
 where Mongolia is

00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:05.160
 on the map

00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:06.519
 with Russia to the north

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.579
 and China to the south

00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.799
 you can praise God

00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.819
 how he is strategically

00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:11.500
 at work all over the world.

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.879
 It's a thrill of hearts

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:13.799
 how God is at work.

00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:16.960
 In the same way

00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:18.460
 the gospel is bearing fruit

00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.000
 and growing

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:20.680
 throughout the whole world.

00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:22.599
 And it's not just

00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.339
 a global thing

00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:23.680
 you see

00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.639
 just as it has been

00:23:24.639 --> 00:23:25.660
 doing among you

00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:27.360
 since the day

00:23:27.360 --> 00:23:27.960
 you heard it

00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:28.900
 and truly understood

00:23:28.900 --> 00:23:29.480
 God's grace.

00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:30.360
 So the gospel

00:23:30.360 --> 00:23:31.340
 has been impacting

00:23:31.340 --> 00:23:33.120
 and is impacted

00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:34.140
 and is impacting

00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:35.500
 this little city

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.220
 of Colossae.

00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.300
 And think about

00:23:38.300 --> 00:23:39.040
 how it started

00:23:39.040 --> 00:23:40.800
 through this man

00:23:40.800 --> 00:23:41.320
 called

00:23:41.320 --> 00:23:42.560
 Epaphras.

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:44.980
 This is how God

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.620
 works through the

00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:46.220
 ordinary

00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.560
 unspectacular

00:23:47.560 --> 00:23:48.759
 lives of faithful

00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.640
 and daring people

00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.460
 who are willing

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.540
 to speak about

00:23:51.540 --> 00:23:52.279
 Jesus.

00:23:53.840 --> 00:23:54.820
 Should make a difference

00:23:54.820 --> 00:23:55.140
 doesn't it?

00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:55.960
 Those conversations

00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:56.820
 we have in the office

00:23:56.820 --> 00:23:57.380
 about Jesus

00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:58.560
 are not insignificant.

00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.660
 The conversations

00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:00.660
 we have with our family

00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:01.700
 the way that we pray

00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.620
 for them and love them

00:24:02.620 --> 00:24:03.640
 that is not insignificant.

00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.259
 Here is God moving

00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:07.140
 in the ordinary means.

00:24:08.620 --> 00:24:09.020
 Love it.

00:24:09.060 --> 00:24:09.600
 What does it say?

00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.200
 These believers

00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:11.900
 learned it from Epaphras.

00:24:12.020 --> 00:24:12.800
 That word learned

00:24:12.800 --> 00:24:13.380
 in the original

00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:14.920
 is suggestive

00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.440
 of more than

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.440
 he just spoke words

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:16.940
 to them.

00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:19.280
 Epaphras taught them

00:24:19.280 --> 00:24:20.380
 and he helped them

00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:21.900
 see how the gospel

00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:22.700
 should impact

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.259
 every area

00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:24.040
 of their lives

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:25.659
 and he showed them

00:24:25.659 --> 00:24:26.539
 how this message

00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:28.039
 should change them

00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:29.559
 as he lived

00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.319
 his life

00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:31.619
 alongside them.

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:32.480
 Is that not a

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:34.119
 wonderful example

00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:34.920
 of what it means

00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:35.899
 to be a disciple

00:24:35.899 --> 00:24:36.920
 who makes disciples

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:38.559
 of Jesus Christ?

00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:41.000
 Sharing word and heart

00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.500
 with people

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:43.420
 passing on gospel

00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:44.019
 and life

00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:45.420
 modeling to others

00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.099
 what it looks like

00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:47.079
 to worship Jesus

00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:48.220
 with our whole

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.220
 lives.

00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:51.380
 you know Alex

00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:51.880
 and I often

00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:52.799
 ask ourselves

00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.400
 that question

00:24:53.400 --> 00:24:54.000
 in relation to

00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.420
 the girls

00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.220
 we think to ourselves

00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:55.660
 what are they

00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:56.500
 learning from us?

00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:58.579
 What are they

00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.319
 hearing from us?

00:24:59.380 --> 00:24:59.680
 What are they

00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.620
 seeing in us?

00:25:01.600 --> 00:25:02.279
 Because that's the

00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.120
 truth of it isn't it?

00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:03.539
 As we

00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:05.579
 grow up in this

00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:05.900
 world

00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:06.559
 as they grow up

00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.039
 in this world

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.839
 either that we'll

00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:08.880
 be discipling them

00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:10.140
 or the world

00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:10.880
 will be discipling

00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:11.079
 them.

00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:13.200
 And the best thing

00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:13.880
 that we can give

00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:14.160
 them

00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:15.500
 is not a good

00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:15.900
 school

00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:16.380
 it's not to

00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:16.860
 settle them

00:25:16.860 --> 00:25:17.380
 into a good

00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:17.799
 neighborhood

00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:18.399
 but rather

00:25:18.399 --> 00:25:18.899
 it's to do

00:25:18.899 --> 00:25:19.379
 everything that

00:25:19.379 --> 00:25:19.819
 we can

00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.359
 to live out

00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:20.960
 in front of

00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.139
 them

00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:22.119
 a living

00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:22.460
 and an

00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:22.779
 active

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.359
 and a joyful

00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:23.980
 relationship

00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.539
 with Jesus

00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:25.019
 Christ

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:26.240
 to admit

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:26.899
 our failures

00:25:26.899 --> 00:25:27.759
 to say sorry

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.419
 when we got it

00:25:28.419 --> 00:25:28.659
 wrong

00:25:28.659 --> 00:25:29.319
 to demonstrate

00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.019
 that we live

00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.899
 by grace

00:25:30.899 --> 00:25:32.339
 and seeking

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.019
 to introduce

00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:33.519
 them to this

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:34.059
 good God

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.639
 who has saved

00:25:34.639 --> 00:25:35.000
 us

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:36.460
 that is the

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:36.819
 best thing

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:37.200
 that we can

00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:37.740
 give people

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:40.299
 here's what I

00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:40.960
 want to challenge

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:41.599
 us with today

00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.000
 friends

00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:42.460
 who are you

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.119
 modeling this

00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:43.359
 to?

00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.680
 Who is

00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.259
 learning the

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:46.839
 Christian life

00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.240
 from you?

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.039
 who is watching

00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:48.460
 you?

00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:49.680
 Who could you

00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.299
 get alongside?

00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:52.720
 Who could you

00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.339
 ask to get

00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:54.319
 alongside you?

00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:56.440
 We pray for

00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:57.359
 opportunities to

00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:58.240
 share Jesus

00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:58.920
 with others

00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:00.519
 see these

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:00.940
 Colossian

00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.279
 Christians

00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:01.640
 they learned

00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:01.880
 it from

00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:02.500
 Epaphras

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:02.839
 and Paul

00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:03.220
 wants them

00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:03.579
 to know

00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:03.920
 that he

00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.460
 is a dear

00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:05.279
 fellow servant

00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:05.640
 and a

00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:06.480
 faithful minister

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:08.500
 here is a

00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.339
 man full of

00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:09.839
 faith

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:11.079
 of love

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:12.299
 and of hope

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.680
 and Paul is

00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.220
 writing here to

00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.700
 say listen

00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.279
 you can trust

00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:15.720
 this guy

00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.880
 and you

00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.259
 can trust

00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:17.940
 his message

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:19.420
 and Epaphras

00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:20.039
 he is working

00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:20.559
 he is

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.640
 this is one of

00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:22.200
 my heroes

00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:22.920
 of the New

00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:23.200
 Testament

00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:23.779
 this man

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.279
 Epaphras

00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:24.680
 cannot wait

00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:24.940
 to meet him

00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.299
 in glory

00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:26.579
 Epaphras is

00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.360
 working so hard

00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:27.640
 for them

00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:28.019
 because he

00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:28.400
 loves them

00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:28.980
 so much

00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:30.299
 he's serving

00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:30.579
 them

00:26:30.579 --> 00:26:31.460
 he's making

00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.160
 himself nothing

00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:32.920
 for the sake

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.500
 of these

00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:34.100
 Christians

00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:34.640
 because he

00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:35.079
 knows that

00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:35.460
 the gospel

00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.120
 is a big

00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:36.900
 deal

00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:39.360
 the song

00:26:39.360 --> 00:26:39.540
 that we

00:26:39.540 --> 00:26:39.880
 sometimes

00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:40.320
 sing here

00:26:40.320 --> 00:26:40.680
 Jesus

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.300
 is Lord

00:26:41.300 --> 00:26:42.000
 whose voice

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.580
 sustains

00:26:42.580 --> 00:26:43.140
 the stars

00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:43.840
 and planets

00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:45.220
 yet in his

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:45.840
 wisdom laid

00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:46.460
 aside his

00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:46.860
 crown

00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:47.280
 Jesus

00:26:47.280 --> 00:26:47.940
 the man

00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:48.560
 who washed

00:26:48.560 --> 00:26:49.060
 our feet

00:26:49.060 --> 00:26:49.620
 who bore

00:26:49.620 --> 00:26:50.480
 our suffering

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.960
 became a

00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:52.519
 curse to

00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:54.040
 bring salvation's

00:26:54.040 --> 00:26:54.720
 plan

00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:56.120
 friends as we

00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:56.540
 close this

00:26:56.540 --> 00:26:57.080
 morning let me

00:26:57.080 --> 00:26:57.620
 ask you how

00:26:57.620 --> 00:26:58.240
 big is your

00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:58.940
 view of Jesus

00:26:58.940 --> 00:27:00.980
 have it in your

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.460
 mind as we

00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:01.840
 journey through

00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:02.320
 this series

00:27:02.320 --> 00:27:02.980
 together is he

00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:03.420
 the Sunday

00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:04.060
 school Jesus

00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:05.899
 is he the

00:27:05.899 --> 00:27:06.480
 lucky charm

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.000
 Jesus

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:08.819
 is he a

00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:09.339
 role model

00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:09.879
 Jesus

00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:11.139
 is he a

00:27:11.139 --> 00:27:11.579
 999

00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:12.119
 Jesus

00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:13.700
 or

00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:14.919
 will we

00:27:14.919 --> 00:27:15.379
 make it our

00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:15.759
 prayer

00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:17.159
 that God

00:27:17.159 --> 00:27:17.460
 through his

00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:17.879
 word would

00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:18.480
 help us see

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:18.899
 that we have

00:27:18.899 --> 00:27:19.539
 a big

00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.019
 Jesus

00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:22.279
 you know

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.839
 Charlie Duke

00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.159
 was an

00:27:23.159 --> 00:27:23.740
 astronaut who

00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.179
 flew on

00:27:24.179 --> 00:27:24.460
 board

00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.539
 Apollo 16

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:27.440
 and after his

00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.139
 time in space

00:27:28.139 --> 00:27:28.659
 after a little

00:27:28.659 --> 00:27:29.980
 while he

00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:30.379
 became a

00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:30.720
 Christian

00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:32.039
 and somebody

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.500
 asked him

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:32.819
 about the

00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.139
 overview

00:27:33.139 --> 00:27:33.679
 effect

00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.680
 and he

00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.320
 said now

00:27:35.320 --> 00:27:35.740
 that I'm a

00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.100
 believer

00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:37.680
 in my

00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:38.200
 mind I

00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:38.660
 can see

00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:39.320
 that sight

00:27:39.320 --> 00:27:41.180
 and proclaim

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:41.580
 as the

00:27:41.580 --> 00:27:41.980
 psalmist

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:43.440
 did that

00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:44.200
 the heavens

00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:45.600
 declare the

00:27:45.600 --> 00:27:46.220
 glory of

00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:47.580
 God and

00:27:47.580 --> 00:27:48.160
 the sky

00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:48.820
 proclaims the

00:27:48.820 --> 00:27:49.259
 work of his

00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:49.500
 hands

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.200
 Psalm 19

00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:51.620
 friends how

00:27:51.620 --> 00:27:52.080
 big is your

00:27:52.080 --> 00:27:52.400
 view of

00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:52.759
 Jesus

00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:54.340
 because

00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:54.880
 Colossians

00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:55.480
 presents us

00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:55.940
 with a big

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:57.380
 Jesus and

00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:57.640
 he's a

00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:58.120
 Jesus who

00:27:58.120 --> 00:27:58.940
 is so much

00:27:58.940 --> 00:28:00.500
 bigger than

00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:01.080
 we think

00:28:01.080 --> 00:28:01.720
 he is

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.700
 why don't

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.120
 we pray

00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:06.259
 maybe just

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:06.599
 as we

00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:07.139
 before we

00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:07.439
 move on

00:28:07.439 --> 00:28:07.959
 this morning

00:28:07.959 --> 00:28:09.479
 let's just

00:28:09.479 --> 00:28:10.259
 pause

00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.919
 and let's

00:28:11.919 --> 00:28:12.279
 just take

00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:12.699
 time to

00:28:12.699 --> 00:28:13.299
 consider

00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.359
 what we've

00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:15.159
 heard and

00:28:15.159 --> 00:28:15.819
 sung and

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.379
 read this

00:28:16.379 --> 00:28:16.799
 morning and

00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:17.279
 ask that God

00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:17.639
 would be at

00:28:17.639 --> 00:28:18.079
 work in our

00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:18.439
 hearts

00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:20.500
 thanks for

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.440
 we've

00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:30.480
 made it

00:28:30.840 --> 00:28:35.519
 to